I have had lots of requests over the years to de-mystify Indian spices and finally, I've decided to come around to it. And while doing it, I wanted to write about the Jai Ho Indian grocery store that just opened around the corner from us by the Safeway on Fillmore. We hated going to the grumpy owner of the Indian store on Polk and when we saw this, it delighted us to no end. Everytime we make a grocery run at Safeway, Jon makes a point to go in and buy something.... "he wants to keep them in business", he says!
Ok. Back to spices. The Indian Curry powder (think the ready-made kind as well) usually consists of 5 basic spices. All the 5 in different quantities are a must have for almost all Indian dishes.
- Haldi Powder (Turmeric): Peppery, warm bitter flavor that is used in Indian food in very small quantities. It gives a rich custard-like yellow color.
- Dhaniya Powder (Coriander/Cilantro): A very yummy spice that I always over indulge in. Warm, nutty flavor that is used by a handful, rather than the pinch.
- Chili Powder: Spice usually made from dried red chili. Cayenne pepper would be a replacement.
- Cumin Powder: Not Jon's favorite spice. I love it but have to use it in moderation. It is a great spice with a strong flavor that has potential to take over the dish. It is hotter to taste and lighter in color than Caraway seeds.
- Kali Mirch (Black Pepper Powder): Self-Explanatory.
With these basic spices, you should be well on your way to cook yummy Indian food. Additionally, here are some other popular combination spices that I use often:
- Garam Masala: Combination of different spices cloves, bay leaves, black cumin, cardamom, anise and coriander seeds. If you read through my recipes I tend to use it towards the end of cooking a dish. It leaves a nice overall flavor.
- Sambhar Powder: As the name suggests used to make South Indian Sambhar dish. This is a great resource when you need a Tamarind induces flavor.
- Channa Masala Powder: Used to make Channa Masala but I often use it as a spice powder for Papri and aalo chats. I also put a pinch of it on raitas. Its tangy, spicy and has a good rich taste.
This should be a good place to start thinking about Indian spices. All can be found at your local Indian store. If living in the city, definitely try Jai Ho Indian grocery store run by a wonderful Indian family. They have almost all things you can think of in stock and amazingly carry recipe cards for a variety of Indian dishes.
Have fun!